The Blues have been heavily linked with the Rams star.
Birmingham City manager Gianfranco Zola has admitted, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail, that he is a big fan of Derby County winger Johnny Russell but added that he is also looking at other wide midfield targets.
Russell has made 21 appearances for the Rams so far this term, scoring his only goal of the campaign in Steve McClaren’s first game back in charge, a 1-0 win over Leeds United in mid-October.
The Scotland international has been an important player for the East Midlands side ever since joining the club from Dundee United in 2013, scoring 28 goals in 160 games in all competitions in the three-and-a-half years since.
Despite a reduced goalscoring tally so far this term, he has attracted the attentions of Birmingham and their new boss Zola this month as the Blues look for attacking reinforcements.
Zola confirmed his interest in signing the 26-year-old on Tuesday, but insisted that Russell is not the only player he is considering a move for.
The Italian boss said, via the Birmingham Mail: “Johnny is a very good player and he plays in a position where we are looking so he is one of the players we had a look at, but he’s not the only one.”
One of those other unnamed targets is thought to be Swansea City winger Wayne Routledge, whom it is thought the Swans may allow to leave this month.
However, Birmingham fans seemed far from impressed with reports that they could move for the former Aston Villa flop, and will likely be hoping that Zola instead goes all out to bring Russell to St. Andrew’s.
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